Olive the cat outside the window where I write.

The kitty is missing. I haven’t seen her today and it’s been about 12 hours. She likes to hide away and sleep during the day, so maybe she hasn’t woken up from her catnap.

We have too much stuff going on right now in and around the house. After living here for 28 years, we are having the exterior painted. We have taken out the baby gates around the pool along with a hedge where Olive the cat used to hide. We have a handyman making repairs and painting the laundry room and a crew of six painters outside with loud machinery. So there’s no safe place inside or outside for Olive.

She doesn’t like strangers and our friends who house-and-kitty-sit don’t believe we actually own a cat. When anyone besides me, my husband or my daughter are around, the kitty becomes invisible.

I’m trusting she’ll make her appearance when the painters and the handyman depart today. I’ll let you know. I’m a little worried and I don’t think I can take anymore upsets this year.

Nine years ago we adopted this pretty kitty with polydactyl paws.

Have you owned a cat who liked to hide for hours on end? Where were the favorite hiding places?